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Sofie Formica ‘sad and really angry’ over society’s failure with youth crime

Sofie Formica
Article image for Sofie Formica ‘sad and really angry’ over society’s failure with youth crime

Reports of the childhood of a teenager responsible for the deaths of Matthew Field and Kate Leadbetter has exposed a major failing in our society, Sofie Formica says.

State Opposition Leader David Crisafulli and Redlands Mayor Karen Williams are leading a push for the teen’s 10-year sentence to be appealed and legislative changes to curb juvenile crime enacted.

But Sofie Formica says while it’s fair to demand stronger penalties for youths who are repeatedly caught committing crimes, they will not go far in addressing the problem at its roots.

“I’m not making any excuse for what has happened here,” she said. “[But] it also breaks my heart to hear this kid has, for what we can garner hearing about him, raised himself.”

Justice Martin Burns noted at the teen’s sentencing he had suffered a prejudicial upbringing, in which he was abused and exposed to drug use.

“The absence of any proper parental care saw you frequently absent from school and running away and living between friends’ houses, if not in parks,” Justice Burns said.

“You spent time with other vulnerable disconnected youths using most of your time seeking, using or coming down from drugs and engaged in crime to obtain drugs and food.”

A medical report before the court expressed the opinion the defendant suffered from symptoms consistent with a complex post traumatic stress disorder arising from his childhood trauma.

“Yes, we could impose a life sentence on him and from the age of 18, he could be forced to spend the rest of his natural life incarcerated for the lives he’s taken and the pain that he’s caused,” Sofie continued.

“But this won’t fix the broader issue that we also need to address: one that is complex, uncomfortable for many to talk about and is ever-present.

“There are babies being born every day in our community into environments that are not nurturing, not loving and not safe.

“It makes me sad and really angry that we have harsher expectations about the way people raise their dogs than the way they raise their children.”

Press PLAY below to hear Sofie Formica’s comments in full 

Sofie Formica
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